Telegraph-transmitter.



v E. H PIERSEN, TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1918.

I Patented Dec. 31, 1918,.

ATTORNEY. A

E. H, PIERSEN. TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER.

APPIICATION FILED MAY 28. 1918.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

H7 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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fdW/h BY (I E. h. PIERSEN.

TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER,

APPLICATION HLED MAY 2B. I9l8. Y

' Patented Decu31, 1918.

10 SHIEIETS-SHEET' 3.

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' N N INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

E. H.--PIERSEN.

TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1918,

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented De [N VENTQ/e A .Qv

Edwin hi Hkrmw 1M2: A T T 018 NE T E. H. PIERSEN.

TELEGRAPH TRAN5MITTER.

APPLICATION FILED MQY 28. 1918.

1,289,899. Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5- JNVENTOR E H Pkraen L/ A TTORNEY EHH. PIERSEN.

TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 28. I918.

1,2@9,@-I;I Patented Dec. 31,1918.

IO'SHEETS-SHEET 6.

[/0 IN'VENTOR [06 II? I Edwin H. f lerscn /0? B I ATTORNEY E. H. PIE RSEN. I TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1918.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

INVENTOR EdwlhH/ lersen 'ATMRNEY Patented Dec. 31,1918.

E. H. PIERSEN. TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FlLED MAYZB. i918.

1,289,899. 7 Patented Dec. 31,1918.

\o SHEETS-SHEET a. w

' E. H. PIERSEN.

TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER. APPLICATION FlLl ID MAY 28. \918,

1,289,899. Patented Dec. 31,1918.

0 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

m VEAKTOR E. PIERSEN. TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1918.

1,289,899. Patented Dec, 31, 1918.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

' 1N1 VENTOR I Edwin H ff/5627 A TTORNE y" ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN H. PIERSEN, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PIERSEN TEIIEGRAPH TRANSMITTER COMPANY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, A CORPORATION OF KANSAS.

TELE GRAPH-TRANSMITTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Continuation of application Serial No. 739,295, filed December 30, 1912. This application filed May 28, 1918.

\ Serial No. 237,133.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. PIERSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph-Trans mitters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others:

-transmit a message, irrespective. of the speed or "regularity of operation of the keyboard.

In accomplishing this object, I have provided an apparatus comprising a plurality of individually operative character members, pilot members for setting the character members and pilot members for controlling the tumblers, together with means for releasing the tumblers and returning the parts to storage, whereby the character members may be accumulated and released in proper sequence irrespective of the speed at which the keyboard is operated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide other new and improved details of structure which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims, reference now being had to the accompanying drawings, where1n:

Figure I IS ZI'PQISIJECUVB view of a section of a telegraph transmitter constructed according to my invention, the case and a part of the central portion of the machine being removed to better illustrate the mechanism.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the transmitter, the case being in section on the line IIII, Fig. III.

Fig. III is a rear elevation of same, the case being in section.

Fig. IV is a vertical section of same, the case being removed.

Fig. V is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the chute, showing the spacing gates, the return tube and shutter, and the trip levers for releasing the spacing gates.

Fig. VI is an enlarged perspective of the spacing gatemounting, showing a tumbler in position for actuating the trip lever, by means of the shutter.

Fig. VII is a diagram showing the action of the tappets that operate the spacing gates.

Fig. VIII is a vertical section of part of the chute, the return tube and the conveyer tube, showing the by-pass and switch mechanism for deliverng pilot tumblers into the conveyer.

Fig. IX is a perspective view of the worm cylinder and the chute for delivering tumbler and pilot balls thereto.

Fig. X is a sectional view, showing the interior of the worm cylinder illustrated in Fig. IX.

Fig. XI is a detail perspective of the worm and its operating gear.-

Fig. XII is a perspective view of the under side of the chute, showing a portion of the verge action, and the universal means for actuating the shutter.

Fig. XIII is a detail perspective of a portion of the shutter.

Fig. XIV is a dismantled view of a character unit.

Fig. XV is a side elevation of one of the character members and its driving mechanism.

Fig. XVI is a side elevation of the feeding cylinder, part of the conveyer and the cut off from the conveyer.

Fig. XVII is a perspective view of the lower end of the chute, showing a portion of the adjacent mechanism and means for conveying the pilot balls directly into the return trough.

perspective of part Fig. XXII is a perspective view of the keeper set for insuring individual operation of the key lever. Q

Fig. XXIII is a perspective view of the governor.

Fig. XXIV is an elevation of the governor regulating cam.

Fig; XXV is a sectional view of a portion of the case, showing the means of attaching the frame-work to the casing.

Fig. XXVI is a sectional view of the contact breaker.

Fig. XXVII is a view of a modified form of clash gear in which the intermediate memher is formed of rubber. I

Fig. XXVIII is a side elevation of a modified form of releasing mechanism in WlllCh the key levers may be connected to the verge action or directly to the character disk release levers, so as to eliminate the magazine, if desired.

Referring more in detail to the parts 1 designates a casing having a body portion for containing the operative parts of the machine, and having a forwardly extended portion for inclosing the key-board, the body having an opening in its upper portion normally closed by a cover 2, but through which access may be had to the machine parts, and the extension having an opening 3 through which the keyboard is exposed, the entire case being preferably supported on rubber capped feet 4. In each side of the case are studs 5 (Fig. III), having end sockets for receiving pivot studs 6, that project from the sides 7 of the machine frame, to pivotally mount the frame so that it may swing in the case and permit the forward portion of the case to be lifted away from the machine when it is desired'to expose the parts for lcleaning or repairing.

Also fixed near the forward ends of the frame sides are brackets 8, having downwardly andlaterally oflset portions adapted to underlie the case lugs 9,-and having thumb screws 10 adapted to turn freely therein and thread into the lugs 9, so as to secure the machine frame within the casing when the I latter is 1n normal position.

Extending between the frame sides is a rear base plate 11 (Fig. IV) having a rod 12 extending therethrough, upon which the rear ends of a number of key levers 13 are pivotally mounted, all of the levers being extended forwardly through slots 14 in a plate 15 (Fig. XXII), on the front of the frame, the front plate having upper and lower but fers I6l6 upon which the levers may strike to insure a noiseless and cushioned action thereof when the machine is in operation. In order'to prevent more than one key beingdepressed at a time, I have provided a,

keeper mechanism comprising a plate 17, (Figs. IV and XXII), which is hung from the front of the frame between the front plate 15 and a plate 18, the latterhavlng downwardly opening slots 19 in ahnement with the slots 14 in plate 15.

Loosely mounted indownwardly opening sockets 20 in the lower edge of plate 17 are the heads 21 of depending interlock members 22comprising shanks 23 and laterally flared heads 24;, which latter are spaced so that when a single key lever is lowered all of the heads are moved laterally and closed against each other, to prevent a second lever from being lowered until the first has been lifted and theheads released.

Referring now to the magazine for the key controlling tumblers 4 25 (Figs. IV and XII particularly) designates a hopper comprising a base plate 26 which extends across theupper portion of the frame, and has a cover 27 spaced thereabove to allow free travel of the tumblers and pilot balls while protecting same from accidentor contact by other parts, In the upper surface of plate 26a1'e longitudinal grooves 28,.which correspond with the key levers in nui'nberand arrangement, and in each, groove are balls 29 which are held on the upper base plate 26 by a verge mechanism, comprising an individual lever 31 for each set of balls; all of the levers being pivotally mounted on a common shaft 32 carried; by hangers 30 and held automatically in normal position by springs 33. Each of the levers 31 is adapted to enter a slot 3-1 in the lower edge of the base plate 26 and opening in its set. Each of the levers 31 is connected with one of the key levers 13 by a link 36 so that when a key leverlis depressed it rocks its lever 31 to forward the ball resting in the notch 35, and hold the succeeding balls in the groove; the lever 31 and key lever 13 being brought back to their normal positions by the spring 33 as soon as thekey lever is released.

Inclined downwardly and forwardly from hopper 25 is a chute 38, comprising a base 39 which is supported from the bottom of the machine by brackets 40, and has grooves 41 in ,alinement' with the grooves 28 in the base of the hopper.

Pivotally mounted on the sides of the frame are arms 42, which carry an apron 43 (Fig. IV) that forms anextension of the chute and is yieldingly held in normal positionby a spring 44, the apron being yieldable in order to allow the pilot balls to adjust themselves in the feeding cylinder before being carried into the extensi on segment and to elnninate rattling of the tumbler and pilot balls when the latter are, forced there- I Revolubly mounted in the sides of the frame, in front of chute 38 is a shaft 45, and

Fixed on'shaft 45, at one end of the cylinder,'is a gear wheel 5L9 which meshes with a large gear wheel 50 (Fig. IV) that is revolubly mounted on a stub ,shaft 51 on the machine frame. Fixed to the large gear wheel is a small gear wheel 52 that meshes with a large wheel 53 on the-shaft 54: of a spring motor 55, whereby theactive parts of the machine are actuated, v

Underlying the forward part of cylinder 4.6 and supported by a bracket 56 on the main frame, a segment 57 which is concentric with the cylinder and has grooves 58 in line with the cylinder grooves 47 and chute grooves 41.

Located between the segment 57 and apron 43 are shoes 60 which correspond in number to the cylinder and extension grooves and have grooves (31 in alinement therewith each of said shoes being carried by an independ ent lever 62 that is pivotally mounted on a. shaft 63 which is mounted on and extends between brackets 56.

There is no shoe in front of the pilotball groove, the segment having an extension arm 64: reaching to the apron and to which the pilot balls are delivered therefrom.

The forward end of each lever 63 comprises an arm 65 that projects through aguide 66 on the backof front plate 15, and has a head 67 at its free end pivotally mounted in a socket G8 in the lowcredge of a trip lever 69, there being a. trip lever set for each of the tumbler grooves.

The trip levers 69 are pivotally mounted on a rod 70 (Fig. XV) carried by the front plate 15, and extend forwardly through slots 71 therein, the rear end of each trip having an individual clash gear wheel 72 thereon,

which is constantly in mesh with a single pinion 73 that extends the full width of the frame and is revolubly mounted in the side members 7, each clash gear being adapted for meshing with the gear Wheel of a character member (presently described) when the lever is rocked. The front end of the lever has an arm 74 (Fig.' XV) provided with a.

roller 75, which is adapted to seat in a keeper socket or ride on the periphery of a com puting disk forn'ling part of the character member, and has a spring 76 yieldingly tensioning the lever to hold the roller to its seat, the clash gear out of mesh, and the shoes 60 in receiving position.

linion 73 has a gear wheel 78 meshing with an idler 79 that is interposed between same and the motor gear 50, whereby the pinion is revolved constantly when the motor is active.

Referring now to the character forming mechanism.

Revolubly mounted onthe shaft 80, which is carried by and extends between the sides of the frame, are individual character sets, each comprising a character disk 81, a driving gear wheel 82, and a con'ipnting disk 83, each set being rigidly mounted on a bushing 84, which is revoluble on the shaft 80; all of the bushings being in endwise abutment to prevent l'ost motion when the parts are in operation.

In each set the driving gear is of greatest diameter and located between the character and omputing disks, its teeth being adapted to mesh with the teeth of the clash gear for that set when the lever 69 is rocked to lift the clash gear into mesh therewith, so that the character set may be driven from the constantly traveling pinion. The code disk is fixed to one side of the driving gear andhas a plurality of sets of teeth 86 projecting from its circumference and spaced at regular intervals therearound, the teeth of each set being representative of dashes and dots of the Morse or other telegraphic code, and arranged in the order of such symbols in the letter or character for which the disk stands, so that when a set is wiped by the brush (presently described) the letter or character impulses are sent as with an ordinary hand key. I I

The computing disk is fixed to the oppo-' site side of the driving gear and has a socket 87 for each set of teeth on the code disk; the sockets being curved to receive the roller 75 on the lever 69, and so arranged in relation to the character sets that when the lever is lifted the roller will ride on the rail of the disk until the character has been sent and will then drop into the next socket to lock the set in. place.

The brush or contact maker which I prefer t use con'lprises a bar 90 (see Fig. I") which is pivotally mounted between the sides of the frame, and has a downturned car 91 slidably mounted on a screw 92, that is adjusta'bly mounted in a boss 93 on the machine frame, and has a nut 9% adapted for engagement with the boss to limit the forward movement of the bar. A spring 95 surrounds the forward end of cr 92 and bears against the front face of car 91 and against the head 96 of the screw to yieldingly hold said ear against the nut and pro vent lost motion in the brush.

Projecting forwardly from the bar 90 are the brushes 98, each of which is adapted for engagement by the symbol teeth of one of the character disks 81 when the disks are a circuit breaker 100, the preferred form of which comprises a beam 101 (F ig. XXVI) that is rigidly secured to a screw 102 on the side of the frame and insulated from the frame by a collar 103, and from the screw by a bushing 10%, and carrie an adjustable contact screw 105 at its outer end.

Paralleling beam 101 is a vibrator bar 107, which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 108, also carried by the screw and insulated from the beam 101 by a strip 109, but. being grounded on the frame through the screw. The vibrator carries a Hat spring 110 which passes beneath the pivotal mounting and )ears against a laterally turned shelf 111 that projects from one edge of the bracket 108 to hold the bar yieldingly against the .contact screw, the spring being ad ustable through a screw 112, which passesthrough its body and threads into the body of the vibrator bar.

A binding post 115 is mounted on but insulated from the frame and col nected with beam 101 by a wire 114 and a idindina post 118 is carried by and grounded i m the frame. Line wires 116 and 117 are connected with the binding posts and with a receiving element (not shown) a; that when the vibrator closes against the point 105 a circuit is com pleted through wire 116, post 115, wire 11 1, beam 101, point 105, vibrator 107, pin 102, the carrying frame, upon which the pin 102 and the second binding post 118 are grounded, and through the post 118' to the line wire 117.

In operating the machine without regard to the accumulation features presently described, when a key lever is pressed a tumbler and a pilot ball are liberated and pass down chute 38 nto apron 43, at which point cylinder -16, ,which is constantly revolving, engages the tumbler ball and forces it across the face of the shoe for that particular set, depressing the shoe and thereby rocking its lever 62. When the lever 62 is rocked it in turn rocks its lever 69 to lift roller 7 5 pleted and then, under the influence of the.

spring .76, drops into a succeeding notch,

allowing the levers to rock and disengage, the clash gear automatically from the driving disk. i

After leavingthe shoe 60 the ball passes along the grooves 58 in the segment 57, and

terminates in a tubular member 131,,which which rises from the top of cylinder 133 and continues upwardly along the chute 33 and hopper 25, terminating in a goose neck 13%, which opens into the upper end of the hopper, so that when the tube is full each ball, as it enters the elevator cylinder, is caught by the worm and forced against-the balls already in the elevator tube, to raise the latter so that a ballis fed into the hopper whenever a new ball is dropped into the cylinder.

- With the mechanism heretofore described the character sets may be actuated singly, but without accumulation. In order to increase the efliciency of the machine, I prode the following mechanism, whereby the tumblers are stored to release and effect the actuation of the character sets in proper sequence irrespective of the speed at which the key board isoperated.

Pivotally mounted near each end of the cylinder 46 are arms 208, which are yield-r ingly held in elevated position by a spring 210 and connected by bars 209 and 212, the 'former of which lies beneath the shoes 60 so that it is engaged thereby when the levers 62 are actuated, and the latter of which is adapted to move into the path of downworning tumblers when the arms are rocked as described, to stop said tumblers before they reach the cylinder. As the shoes remain in lowered position all of the time that a character member is being sent, it is apparent that the stop bar 212 will hold a succeeding tumbler out of the cylinder until the character is completed and thereby obviates simultaneous actuation of character members.

The chute 38 has, in addition to the grooves 41 for each key lever set,'a groove 120 which extends through the upper face of the plate and into the hopper 25, where it contains a number of balls which are identical with and may serve as tumblers, but are, when used in the following connection, dew

signated pilot balls, and which, when released .by their verge, drop downwardly through shute 38 and when allowed to do so are carried idly therearound by the cylin-- der 46 and dropped .into the trough 130 where they are elevated. into the tube 139.

7 Located at the top of groove and atthe base of the hopper, is a verge action 121 (Fig. XII) which is identical with the rats verge actions 31, heretofore deecrm and is also pivotally mounted on the shaft 32 which carries the tumbler verges. The action 121 has a rod 123 extended therethrough and beneath arms 31 of the tumbler verges so that when any one of the tumbler verges is depressed by its key lever 13, the 'rod 123 is depressed thereby and the pilot verge is rocked to drop one of the pilot balls into the chute.

. The rod 123 has its ends projected into arms 124 which are pivot-ally mounted on the shaft 32, one of the arms having a spring 125 connected therewith so that the rod is yieldingly held against the bottom of the verge arms 31', the spring being preferably fliuected with an arm 126 which is pivotally taunted on the side of the hopper and adapted for adjustment by a screw 127.

Vith this mechanism, each actuation of a key lever 13 not onlv releases one of the tumbler balls into the chute, but also releases one of the pilot balls, the full portions of the verges serving to arrest succeeding balls while those in the verge sockets are being delivered to the chute.

Extending across the chute 38 are gates 140, (Figs. IV, V and VI), each of which has downwardly offset ends 141 terminating in stub axles 142 by which they are pivotallv mounted in the sides of the chute, each bar being triangular in cross-section and having its upper right hand corner cutaway to form a flat bearing face 143, and having a flat bar 144 secured to its under face beneath the flattened portion and adapted to engage the flattened part of the next higher gate when the parts are in open position, to keep thegate from rising sufficiently to allow the latches hereafter described to rise to their full lock position.

At their left-hand ends the gates 140 are provided with springs 145 which connect with the side of the chute and normally, yieldinglytension the gates downwardly so that tumbler and pilot balls may be held thereby when delivered from the verges or from higl'ier gates, all of the gates being held upwardly by the latches (presently described) when the machine is to be put in use.

Extending in longitudinal alinement within a channel in (Figs. v and VI) adjacent the pilot groove and beneath the conduit 152, is a row of latches 173, each of which is adapted for controlling a single gate 140, the lower latch being operable by the bar 212, and the upper ones by the successive gates. Each latch comprises a head 174 which is revolubly mounted in the groove 175 in the channel 172, and a body 176, hav ing beveled corners 177 and 178. The body 173 has a leaf 179 projecting from its lower edge and engaged by a spring 180, which is seated on the head of a screw 181 that projects into a socket in the base 39 and reg ulates the tension of the spring. A pin 182 projects laterally from the upper edge of the bodyand over the pilot groove in position for engagement by a ball located therein.

iVhen the latches are in their normal position, i. a. projected yieldingly toward the pilot groove, the upper end of each latch is tween the pilot ball groove 120 and the next tumbler groove, the shutter being'so located that when moved laterally it engages pilot balls in the groove 120 and moves the balls against the pins 182 of the latches 173.

On the upper end of the shutter is a downturned lever arm 187 (Fig. XII) which projects through slot 188 in the base of the chute and is adapted for engagement by arlever 189 on the verge rod 32, so that the shutter is moved laterally against the tension of its spring 190 when the verge is rocked with the depression of each key lever. v

Vith this mechanism, when a key lever has been struck, a tumbler and a pilot ball are dropped through the chute,.pass into the cylinder, and seta character member. Should a second key be struck before the first character is completed, a second pair of balls are dropped into the chute, but

owing to the bar 212 being held down by the shoe of thefirst character lever, they are stopped by said bar at the base of the chute. Should a third key be struck while the second pair of balls is behind bar 212, the lateral movement of the shutter (which is actuated each time a key lever is struck) presses the pilot ball lying back of bar 212 aginst the pin 182 of the latch 175 for the bar 212 and rocks the latch to a vertical position. As the latch rises it moves from under the front end of the strip 144 of the bottom gate, and that gate is rocked downwardly by its spring 145 and stops the oncoming balls. Vith a pilot ball behind the lower gate, actuation of another key lever before that ball has been released will cause the next higher gate to be released in the same manner, and so on throughout the v series.

The mechanism just described only serves to hold the balls in the proper grooves and in the order in which the keys are actuated,

the following mechanism being provided for opening the gates in proper sequence to allow them to feed to the cylinder.

Pivotally mounted on the righthand axle of each gate is a tappet 192, which is connected with the adjacent, downturned end of the gate by a spring 193 that is stronger than the spring 145 on the opposite end of the gate, so that it will rock the gate. to open the channel in the chute when the tappet is rocked, as will presently be described.

Each tappet has an car 19% at its upper end which projects into a groove 195 in the bottom of a conduit 196, formed as a riblike extension of a tube 152 which cuts into the return tube 139 a short, distance above the worm cylinder and near the top of'the chute, and is adapted for carrying balls back to the chute.

A worm 198is located within the conduit 1 152 and has a shaft 199 provided with a beveled gear wheel 197 which meshes with a gear wheel 200 on the shaft of cylinder 46, so that, the worm is driven constantly when the cylinder is in action, to elevate the balls through the conduit.

In a by-pass 202, which connects the conduit 196 with the return tube 139, ,is a slot 203, and projecting from the bypass adjacent the slot is an car 204.

Pivotally mounted on the ear 20% is a latch member 205, having a tooth 206 projected through the slot 203 into the by-pass in position to stop the balls therein, andhaving an upper stop tooth 207, which is normally held outside of the tube but adapted for projection thereinto to hold the column of balls when the lower finger is rocked out of the by-pass to allow the bottom ball to drop into the conveyer conduit (Fig, VIII).

The latch member 205 is adapted to re lease one of the balls into the conveyer Whenever a tumbler enters the cylinder, by means of a pin 211 (Fig. XVI) which is mounted on. one of the arms 208 and pro 'jccted into an aperture 205' in the latch 205, so that the latch is rocked when the bar: 212 is lowered.

Whenever the bar 212 is lowered the bottom ball in the conduit 196 is delivered into the worm and forced upwardly there r against the lower ball in the return tub raise the balls therein and thereby oper the gates and stop the tumbler and pilot balls. As the ball in the conduit passes over the tappet for the lower gate it rockslthe tappet and the spring 193-being stronger.

than the spring 145-rocks the gate so that it lifts and releases the third set of balls, which then drop back of the bar 212.

It is apparent that should the keyboard be operated with suilicient rapidity to bringa number of or all of the gates into operation, a ball traveling up the "conduit will actuate the active gates in turn so that the tumbler balls are delivered to the cylinder 1n proper order.- The latches and gates are so constructed that, when-an upper gate is down, a lower gate may be rocked sufficiently :to allow the tumbler to pass, but not saith ciently to allow the latch to assume its loci:-

, ing position. I

In order toavoid confusion of the tune-- blers at the top of the chute should all of the gates be filled, I provide mechanism tuate an arm 221 to project the same-between two of the keeper hangers 22 and lock the keyboard until the machine has caught up with the operator.

In order that the machine may be operated directly from the keyboard instead'of through the tumbler mechanism, the verge links 36 may be provided with pins 225 (Fig. XXVIII), which are adapted for holding beneath the lips 226 formed on the key levers by providing said levers with the upwardly opening and backwardly extending slots 227, and directly connecting each character member setwith its key lever.

by a link 228 which is pivotally connected with an arm 229 on the lever 69, and has a tooth 230 adapted for projection beneath a pin 231 on the key lever 13.

. It is apparent that the springs on the levers 69 will hold the links to the lever pins and the verge links out of the lever bars unless restricted, and in order' to keep the connection between the character members and tumbler mechanism, I provide a keeper 232, which is pivotally mounted on the" frame and carries a rod 233 in front of the links 228, so that when the keeper is moved rearwardly, all of I the link teeth will be moved from under the lever pins and the pins of the verge links will be moved beneath the lips 226. In order to hold the parts in either osition, I provide the keeper with notches 237 into either of which the spring 238 is adapted to project to hold the keeper.

In order to limit the speed of the sprmg motor, I provide a governor comprising a shaft 239, which is revolubly mounted in hearings in the side of theframe and in a bracket 2&0 carried by the frame, and is connected with the shaft 45 and gear 137 through gear wheels 241,242, 243 and Keyed on the shaft 239 is afcollar 246, having governor weights ,247 pivotally mounted thereon, and held yieldingly toward.

the shaft by the springs 248, which are carried bv a collar 2&9, also mounted on the governor shaft. 7

. Slidably mounted in a bearing 250 on "the side of the frame is a rod 251, which 'is exposed through an' opening 252 in the bearing 250 and adapted for engagement by a spring'253 that is secured tov the side of the frame and tensioncd so as to normally hold the rod outwardly against the collar. Revolubly mounted in. the casing 1 ad jacent to rod 251 is a tapered segment 252, which is rigidly secured to a shaft 253 Fig. XXIV) that projects to the outside of the case and is provided with a knob 254.

The inner face of the segment is tapered, as'shown at 255, and provided with stop members 256, so that byturning the knob 254 the rod 251 is moved inwardly or outwardly to vary the position of the leather covered tip 256% to oifer variable resistance to the governor when it has reached a speed great enough to move the collar 246 thereagalnst,

The spring motor may be of any suitable type, but is preferably provided with the usual winding crank 258.

Briefly describing the use and operation of th device When the machine is to be used, the hopper and returntube are filled with balls, the latches set to hold the gatesin raised position and the motor started, to revolve the elongated pinion '73.

When a message is to be sent, the keyboard is operated in the usual manner, the

first key struck rocking the verge for that key so that the ballin this verge is released and allowed to pass down the chute beneath the open gates and beneath the cylinder.

The cylinder when in revolution, catches the tumbler in one of the grooves and presses it against the shoe for that key, lowering th shoe so that the shoe lever is rocked to rock the lever that controls the character incur her for that key.

When the character member levelis rocked .it releases the character memberand throws the clash gear into mesh with the constantly traveling pinion revolving the member to actuate the circuit breaker and send the character.

While the character is being sent the char acter lever is held by the rail of the computing disk and holds theshoc down, the latter holding the Stop. bar so that should a second key be struck before the character is com leted the tumbler-released by that ke will )e held by the bar and prevent its entrance to the cylinder, thereby obviating the coir fusion which would result from simulaneous actuation of two character members. The tumbler and pilot balls pass together (see through the cylinder-the pilot idly--and after the actuation of the character member are delivered over the edge of the extension and into the worm casing. The worm then forces both balls into the return tube through which they are delivered back to the hopper, the shutter and gate tappets working idly because there are no pilot ballsto transmit motion to the gate latches.

It is apparent that this operation may be continued until the message has been sent, but, leaving the gate mechanism out of consideration, that care must b taken not to operate the keyboard faster than the individual characters are sent, to obviate piling up of the tumblers back of the stop bar.

Presuming, however, that the. first tumbler were in the cylinder, and a-tumbler and pilot ball back of the stop bar, should a third key be struck, the shutter, which works with each key, is moved laterally and engages the pilot ball that lies stop baig pushingtli ball against the bottom latch and lifting the latch so that the latch bar of the bottom gate may pass the latch. The bottom gate, being under tension, then drops down and catches the third tumbler and pilot, the first tumbler and pilot passing to the return tube and the second tumbler and pilot to the cylinder.

Simultaneously with the action of the bar 212, thelatch 205 is actuated to drop a ball into the bypass so that it may be carried up by the worm, engage the tappet ot' the bottom gat and rock the gate to release the third tumbler and pilot, the gate. swinging against the not. in placeto be engaged by the latch bar of the first gate. \Vhen the bottom gate lifts as described, the tumbler and pilot balls are released and the latch flies back to its holding position, to be again actuated when another key is struck.-

Presumi-ng further that a fourth key is struck before the first character is cmnpleied and while the second pilot and tumbler are held by the bar 212 and the third pilot and tumbler are held by the first gate, the shutter acts on the pilot which is held by the first gate, to actuate the latch for the second gate, so that the stop bar on the second gate is released and allowed to drop so that the fourth tumbler iscaught thereby, the second pilot and tumbler being still held by the bar 212 and the third pilot and tumbler by the first gate.

When the second gate is down, the pilot ball acting on the tappet of the first gate rocks that gate far enough to release the ball, but the latch bar on said. first gate engages the flattened part of the second gate and stops the first one before it has lifted high enough for the latch to snap back, the tappet spring yielding to allow the tannetto com plete its travel and the actuating ball to pass thereover.

This action ofthe gates is illustrated in its stop bar engaging the next higher gate to prevent its raising sufiiciently to allow the latch for the next higher gate to return to set position and showing its tappet carried on. against the tension of its spring, the third gate in holding position, and the fourth gate in original or open position.

It is apparent that a ball traveling up the conduit will release the tumblers and pilot pairs in sequence and that when released the alls' will be stopped against the next lower gate so that there is never more than one set of balls behind any gate at the same time and the characters are therefore sent in order in which the keys are struck.

When all the gates are down, the latches are all up and the last latch locks the keyboard until the machine has cleared, when the operator may continue sending, thereby obviating confusion at the top of the chute.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

l. A telegraph transmitter comprising character members, means for actuating the character members, individual floating members for controlling said actuating means, and means for selectively directing said floating members to actuate predetermined characters.

2. A telegraph transmitter comprising independently operable character members,

mechanism for actuating the cha 'acter mem' bers, independent tumblers for eflecting cooperation between the character members and actuating mechanism, a hopper for containing said tumblers, and means for selectively releasing said tumblers from the hopper.

3 A telegraph transmitter comprising independently operable character members, mechanism for actuating the character members, independent tumblers for effecting cooperation between the character members and actuating mezhanism, a hopper for containing said tumblers, means for selectively releasing said tumblers from the hopper, and single means for returning all of said tumblers to the hopper.

4. A telegraph transmitter comprising character members, a prime mover, setting devices between said character members and prime mover, and tumblers for tripping said setting devices.

5. A telegraph transmitter comprising iudividually operative character members, a

prime mover, setting devices between said charactm. memlgg g and prime mover, indiinder, and tumblers adapted for cooperationwith the setting cylinder to trip said character transmission to render the character members operative.

7 In a telegraph transmitter, individually operative character members,'a single driver, transmission members constantly meshing with the driver and adapted for connection with the different character members, a setting cylinder, shoes located adjacent the cylinder and connected with the transmission members, andtumblers adapted for cooperation with the cylinder and shoes to rock the transmission members substantially as set forth.

8. A telegraph transmitter-I comprising character members, a single driving pinion, a pivotally mounted lever for each character member having a gear wheel constantly meshing with the pinion and adapted for meshing with the character member, means for yieldingly retaining said lever out of op-' erative engagement with the character member, a setting lever connected with the first named lever and having a shoe, a cylinder revolubly mounted adjacent the shoe, tumblers adapted for travel between the cylinder and shoe, and means for controlling the tumblers, for the purpose set forth. 7

9. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of individually operative character members, a single driving pinion, a. lever for each character member adapted for locking engagement therewith, and having a gear wheel constantly meshing with the pinion and adapted for driving the character memher, a setting cylinder, a setting lever connected with the first named lever and having a shoe located adjacent the cylinder tummembers, each comprising a gear Wheel, a

character disk and a computing disk, a trip lever pivotally mounted adjacent each character member, and having an arm yieldingly engaging the computing disk, and having a gear wheel adapted for engaging the gear on the character member, a constantly revolving pinion meshing with all of the trip lever gears, a setting member, tumblers adapted for travel along the setting mem-. her, and means connected with the trip'lever and adapted for actuation by the tumblers for guiding the trip lever, substantially as set forth.

=1 .ripheral groove tor incense 11. in a telegraph transmitter comprising a plurality of individually operative character .n'iembers, means for driving said members, and a control mechanism comprising a setting cylinder, at setting lever having; a shoe located adjacent the cylinder, a tumbler chute, and tumblers adapted for travel through the chute and between the cylinder nd shoe, for the purpose set forth.

i l. in a telegraph transmitter, a circuit breaker, a plurality of individually operalive character members, means for driving aid members, and a controlling mechanism comprising a setting cylinder, having a peeach oil the character members, a tumbler chute having, an extension underlying the cylinder, tumblers adapted for travel in said chute-and a setting lever connected with the member driving means, and having a shoe projected through the tumbler chute and adapted for actuation by a tumbler during the travel thereof beneath. the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

13. In a telegraph transmitter, a circuit breaker, a plurality of individually opera tive character members, a single driving pinion, individual means for engaging the pinion ivith each character member, a setting lever for each of said individual means, a setting cylinder, tumblers adapted for travel between the cylinder and said setting levers, and keys for releasing tumblers selectively, for the purpose set forth.

14-. In av telegraph t ansmitter, a circuit breaker, a shaft located adjacent the circuit breaker, a plurality of individual character members revolu bly--mounted on said shaft iiu'lependently of each other, and each com- .irising character and coin: disks, a single constantly revolving pinion p, allelin r the said shaft, a trip lever for eachcharacter member, having a Wheel revolubly n'iounted thereon in constant engagement With the pinion, a setting cylinder having a circum ferential groove for each character member, and having a plurality of lon, itudinal grooves, a tumbler chute located adjacent the cylinder and having an extension spaced therefrom and located beneath the cylinder, a setting lever o 'ieratively connected with each triplever and having a shoe projected beneath ne of the cylinder grooves, turnblers adapted for travel through the chute and over said shoes. means for holding the tumblers, and a key lever for each character member, having means for relca the tumblers selectively, for the" purpose set forth.

15. ln a, telegraph transmitter, a circuit breaker, a plurality of individually operative character members, each connirisin a character dish, a gear disk and a computing; disk, the character disk havi tooth sets SA and the computingdisk having perlpheral i i-l3 sockets corresponding to the tooth sets on the character disk, a constantly revolving pinion located. adjacent the character members, a trip lever for each character member having a locking; head yieldingly held toward the computing disk to lock in said sockets, or ride on the periphery of the disk when released, a gear \vhecl pivotally mounted on each of said levers and atlapted -tor connecting the pinion With the gear disk on the character member, and a selective mech anism for releasing the trip levers. v

16. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of individually operative character memhere, a circuit breaker, a selective mechanism comprising" a setting cylinder having a circumferential groove for each charactermemher, and a plurality of longitudinal grooves, a tumbler chute extending beneath the cylinder, a setting" lever for each character member, having a shoe projected through the chute, tumblers adapted for travel through the chute and beneath the cylinder to rock said shoes, gates for holding said tumblers in the chute and key levers having connection with said gates, whereby the tumblers are released singly, for the purpose set forth.

17. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of individually operative character inei'nbers, a circuit breaker, actuating mechanim for the character members, and a selective mechanism comprising a setting lever for each operating device, a tumbler chute, tumblers ai'lapted for travel through said chute and over the said levers, means for pressing" said tumblers against the said levers to rock same, means for retaining the tumblers in said chute and key levers having connection with the retaining means, whereby the tun1- blers are released singly, substantially as set forth.

l8. Ina telegraph transmitter, a plurality of individually ope ative. character members, a circuit breaker a driving device for each character member, and a selective mechanism comprising a constantly revoliu'ble member, a tumbler chute havinga groove. for each character men'iber, tum'l'ilers adaptcd for travel through said grooves into con tact with the revoluble member, a setting lever for each driving device having a shoe projecting through tbe'tum'bler chute adjacent the revoluble member, means for holding said tumblers in the chute and key memlc-ers connected with said holding means whereby the tumblers are fed to the. proper chutes. tor-the purpose set forth. 15). In a telegraph transmitter, a circuit breaker, a plurality of individiu lly,operative charactermembers adapted for actualingg the circuit breaker, means for driving the character members. a setting device coir nected with each, of the driving means and provided vvih shoe, a tumbler chute adapted for conducting tumblers over said shoes and having a groove for each character member, tumblers adapted for travel in said chute, means for retaining tumblers within the chute, key levers having connection with said. holding means whereby the tumblers are released singly, and a constantly revoluble member adapted for forcing the tum- .means for holding tuin blers'singly within the chute, a hopper adapted for delivering tumblers into the chute, a key lever for each character member, and means connected with the key levers for delivering tumblers to selected positions Within the chute.

21.. 'In atelegraph transmitter, a plural ity of individually operative character members, a circuit breaker, a driving device tor 25 1 ing a separate space for each character mcmeach character member, a tumbler chute havber, tumblers adapted for travel in said chute, a hopper, means for releasing tumblers selectively from the hopper to the chute, gates for retaining said tumblers singly within the chute, means for actuatingsaid'gates to release the tumblers singly, a constantly revolu-ble tension .member, and a setting lever for each character member driving device, having a shoe adapted for engagement by th tumblers during their travel beneath the revoluble member, substantially as set forth. I

22. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of individually operative character mem-- bers, a circuit breaker, an operating device for each character member, a tumbler chute having a ber, tumb ers adapted for travel in said chute, gates extending transversely acrossthe chute and adapted for holding the tum-' blers singly therein, a hop-per at the top of ,the chute, verge levers between thehopper and chute, key members connected with the verge levers and adapted for delivering the tumblers singly to the chute grooves, a constantly revoluble member located over a portion of the'chute, means for rocking said gates to release the tumblers singly and setting levers connected with the actuating de vices, and having shoes adapted for depression by the tumblers during the travel of the latter beneath the revoluhle member, sub

stantially as set'forthm I 28. In a telegraph transmitter, a circuit breaker, a plurality of individually operative character; members, an actuating device for each character memher, a tumbler chute having a, groove for each character member,

tumblers adapted for travel in said chute,

roove for each character memdevice for each member, a tumbler chute having a division for each character member and a pilot tumbler division, tumblers 'adapted for travel in said chute, a hopper adapted for delivering into the chute, a verge lever for each division of the chute, a key lever connected with each of said verge members except the lever at the pilot position whereby a single tumbler is delivered into the character member grooves by the action of each key lever, means whereby the pilot verge is actuated upon the actuation of any of the character member verges, and means for cooperation with the tumblers to render the character member actuating devices operative, substantially as set forth.

25. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of individually operative character members, a. circuit breaker, an actuating device for each character member, a tumbler chute having a groove for each character member, tumblers adapted for travel in said chute, pivotally mounted gates extending across the chute, means for yieldingly retaining said gates in open position, an elevator extending adjacent said gates, meanson the gatesprojecting into the elevator and adapted for engagement by tumblers traveling therein to release the gates, latches for limiting the movement of said gates, means for moving tumblers against said latches to actuate same, a revoluble member adapted for engagement with tumblers traveling through the chute, and a setting lever hav ing a shoe adapted for engagement by 'said tumblers, for the purpose set forth.

26. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of individually operative character members, a circuit breaker, an actuating device for each character member, a tumbler chute having a separate groove for each character member, setting levers connected with the actuating devices, and having shoes projected into said chute, tumblers adapted for travel in said chute, a roller located above the chute and adapted-for pressing tumblers against said shoes, pivotally mounted gates extending over the chute, means for rocking the gates, pivotally mounted latches adapted for limiting the movement of the gates, a key lever for each character -member, a verge lever connected with each key lever 

